The importance of exercise for diabetics
There are many potential health benefits of exercise for diabetics, in addition to reducing the risk of diabetes complications. Therefore, exercise, along with a healthy diet, is the basis for managing type 2 diabetes and has led to many individuals reducing the need for medication. Learn in this article about the best exercise for diabetics and the potential health benefits.
Sports for diabetics
Exercising for diabetics is associated with many benefits, as it helps in:
Reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin action.
Regulate blood sugar levels and reduce hunger.
Reduce stress, tension and anxiety.
Reducing the need for medication in some cases.
Exercising helps diabetics prevent or delay the complications of diabetes, as it reduces the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases. It also helps burn excess body fat and control blood glucose levels.
Benefits of exercise for diabetics
Exercise for diabetics is part of the treatment plan, as diabetes management, in addition to drug therapy, depends on changing the lifestyle, which is represented by following a healthy diet low in carbohydrates and exercising regularly, knowing that changing the lifestyle has led many patients to reduce the dose of the medication used or completely dispense with the medication.
It is important to monitor blood sugar levels before, during and after exercise for a diabetic patient, in order to monitor the body’s response to exercise. The benefits of exercise for diabetics include:
Improving hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Helping the body use insulin better by increasing insulin sensitivity.
Improves blood cholesterol levels, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.
Controlling blood pressure helps reduce the risk of diabetes complications.
Lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.
Providing the body with energy and activity.
Regulating sleep and getting rid of insomnia.
Maintaining body fitness and flexibility.
Improve blood circulation in the body.
Best sport for diabetics
Diabetics are advised to do aerobic exercises, such as:
Walking.
Jogging
Tennis.
Skiing.
Rowing.
Jump rope.
Swimming.
Dance.
Riding a bike.
basketball.
Other types of sports are less beneficial for diabetics, such as: horse riding, golf, football, volleyball, and bowling. The best sport for diabetics is:
Walking
Walking daily helps maintain the body's fitness and flexibility and stay active, as walking daily enhances weight control and protects against complications of diabetes on the heart and blood vessels.
Cycling
Cycling helps reduce blood sugar levels and reduce symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes.
Resistance exercises
Studies have shown that resistance training helps diabetics:
Increase muscle mass.
Improve insulin resistance.
If you are a beginner, you should start with light weights and body bands.
high intensity exercise
High-intensity interval training is the practice of doing a set of exercises in the shortest possible time by multiplying the effort by doing a 20-minute exercise session. This helps improve metabolism and insulin sensitivity with type 2 diabetes.
Exercise tips for diabetics
A diabetic patient should start exercising slowly and then gradually increase the number of times. Exercise should be done for at least half an hour 5 days a week or as directed by a doctor. It is possible to divide the exercise period into several parts. For example, a diabetic patient can divide the half hour into three sessions, each lasting 10 minutes. In order to maintain the safety of a diabetic patient while exercising, the following advice should be followed:
Check your blood sugar level before exercising to avoid low blood sugar.
Exercise under the supervision of a doctor in advanced cases of the disease, such as:
If blood sugar is above 250 mg/dL and ketones are present, the patient should postpone exercise until blood sugar is below 250 mg/dL.
If your blood sugar is below 100 mg/dL, it is important to eat a light meal before starting your workout.
Check your feet for sores or blisters before and after any physical activity.
It is preferable to exercise 30 minutes to one hour after eating.
Drink water before, during and after physical activity.
Allocate 5-10 minutes before and after exercise to warm up and cool down.
Check your blood sugar level after exercise, as exercise can lower blood sugar for a whole day in some people.
Carry an identification card showing that the patient has diabetes.
Some tips also help in adhering to exercise for diabetic patients, such as:
Exercising with someone else can help boost your motivation and commitment to exercise.
Practice your favorite sport. This helps avoid boredom and withdrawal from exercise.
Setting a specific schedule for exercise times helps program your subconscious mind to exercise.
Setting small, achievable goals, such as walking a specific number of steps or riding a bike for a specific purpose, helps motivate you to continue.
Recovery advice from the 5.6 team
Exercising for diabetics has many health benefits, as it helps control blood sugar levels, reduces insulin resistance, helps in losing excess weight, and maintaining an ideal weight. In addition, it helps in controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which helps in preventing complications associated with diabetes in the long term.